You just need to do a little research on which ones to apply for. This past season was my second season applying and I got selected for 5 hunts. My first season applying I got selected for 3. I think I applied for 25 or 30 total hunts.

You just need to do a little research on which ones to apply for. This past season was my second season applying and I got selected for 5 hunts. My first season applying I got selected for 3. I think I applied for 25 or 30 total hunts.

trust me ive done plenty of research over the years. studied draw odds,, harvest data, how it all relates to good years verses bad, etc. thankfully i have private places to hunt so i only put the kids and myself in for what i consider the better hunts, places other than the geographic region i live in. theres always a few that manage to draw multiple hunts every year. no other state in the union, to my knowledge, allows you to put in for every hunt in the draw. that's ridiculous. it lowers the odds terribly. in stead of being able to apply for those few choices spots you would like to hunt and probably would draw one day, now people have to put in for a lot more just to have a chance at something. many of the big time hunts like mule deer, kerr, chap, etc. have had applications double or have significant increases because "its just $3" for someone to apply for each one. this does not take into consideration that P&W has cut out hunts at various locations and reduced the number of hunts at others. theres a lot more people putting in for a less opportunity that in years past. i think a person should be limited to 2-3 choices per category and if draw for more than one, they have to select which hunt to go on in that category and then everything else is filled by standby or a second draw. more opportunity for everyone that way and tpwd still can make more of that $3 type money. for what its worth, we used to apply for 10-12 hunts, spend $30 and usually draw something every year. now werer spending $75 and drawing nothing. this is the norm with the new system.

trust me ive done plenty of research over the years. studied draw odds,, harvest data, how it all relates to good years verses bad, etc. thankfully i have private places to hunt so i only put the kids and myself in for what i consider the better hunts, places other than the geographic region i live in. theres always a few that manage to draw multiple hunts every year. no other state in the union, to my knowledge, allows you to put in for every hunt in the draw. that's ridiculous. it lowers the odds terribly. in stead of being able to apply for those few choices spots you would like to hunt and probably would draw one day, now people have to put in for a lot more just to have a chance at something. many of the big time hunts like mule deer, kerr, chap, etc. have had applications double or have significant increases because "its just $3" for someone to apply for each one. this does not take into consideration that P&W has cut out hunts at various locations and reduced the number of hunts at others. theres a lot more people putting in for a less opportunity that in years past. i think a person should be limited to 2-3 choices per category and if draw for more than one, they have to select which hunt to go on in that category and then everything else is filled by standby or a second draw. more opportunity for everyone that way and tpwd still can make more of that $3 type money. for what its worth, we used to apply for 10-12 hunts, spend $30 and usually draw something every year. now werer spending $75 and drawing nothing. this is the norm with the new system.

trust me ive done plenty of research over the years. studied draw odds,, harvest data, how it all relates to good years verses bad, etc. thankfully i have private places to hunt so i only put the kids and myself in for what i consider the better hunts, places other than the geographic region i live in. theres always a few that manage to draw multiple hunts every year. no other state in the union, to my knowledge, allows you to put in for every hunt in the draw. that's ridiculous. it lowers the odds terribly. in stead of being able to apply for those few choices spots you would like to hunt and probably would draw one day, now people have to put in for a lot more just to have a chance at something. many of the big time hunts like mule deer, kerr, chap, etc. have had applications double or have significant increases because "its just $3" for someone to apply for each one. this does not take into consideration that P&W has cut out hunts at various locations and reduced the number of hunts at others. theres a lot more people putting in for a less opportunity that in years past. i think a person should be limited to 2-3 choices per category and if draw for more than one, they have to select which hunt to go on in that category and then everything else is filled by standby or a second draw. more opportunity for everyone that way and tpwd still can make more of that $3 type money. for what its worth, we used to apply for 10-12 hunts, spend $30 and usually draw something every year. now werer spending $75 and drawing nothing. this is the norm with the new system.

I've been applying for hunts for 24 years now and I like the new system better as well. Under the old system, I was drawn for 8 hunts in 20 years (1 hunt every 2.5 years or 0.4 hunts per year). In the new system, I've been drawn 5 times in 4 years (1 hunt every 0.8 years, or 1.3 hunts per year). Already looking forward to this year's draw.

Put in a several times in the last few years and have never drawn... Not sure of the old system, I just wish the state would open up more opportunities... As mentioned already, maybe the system should limit the number of hunts a person will be awarded per year...

I would save money if TPWD would limit the number of times we could apply. I think TPWD should eliminate the loyalty points system since a lot of people don't seem to understand how they work. Our points aren't like Colorado that guarantee a tag to the applicant with the most points.